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iX Challenge: Next-Generation Electronics for UK Bathymetric Sonar

The iX Challenge is a competition offering up to £60,000 to UK-based businesses, start-ups and individual entrepreneurs to develop new electronics for bathymetric sonar. Open, closes 6 November 2026.

Run by Innovation Exchange programme, Innovate UK, Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK Business Connect

Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 10 Oct 2026.

A challenge to develop a modern replacement electronics platform for the GeoSwath bathymetric sonar system, with a grant of up to £60K for a 3-month project. Open to established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs and individual entrepreneurs that are UK based or intend to set up a UK base.

Apply or find out more Official page

These details are gathered from public web pages and are not financial advice. Check them with Innovation Exchange programme before you apply.

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Status and deadline

Status

Open

Confirmed on the official page

Deadline

Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)

As stated: Opens: 07/10/2026 Closes: 06/11/2026 5:00pm

Confirmed on the official page

How much

Up to £60,000

Confirmed on the official page

Who can apply

Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs, UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base.

Confirmed on the official page

Business size

Start-ups, Micro (under 10 staff), Small (10 to 49 staff), Medium (50 to 249 staff)

Confirmed on the official page

Sectors

design, digital, electronics, photonics, sensors

Could your business apply?

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How to apply

Submit an application via the Find out more and apply link on the Innovation Exchange challenge page, with pitches for successful applicants to follow.

Not confirmed on the official page

Where it is open: UK-wide

United Kingdom

Confirmed on the official page

HartlepoolMiddlesbroughRedcar and ClevelandStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonHaltonWarringtonBlackburn with DarwenBlackpoolKingston upon Hull, City ofEast Riding of YorkshireNorth East LincolnshireNorth LincolnshireYorkCounty DurhamCheshire EastCheshire West and ChesterNorthumberlandCumberlandWestmorland and FurnessNorth YorkshireBurnleyChorleyFyldeHyndburnLancasterPendlePrestonRibble ValleyRossendaleSouth RibbleWest LancashireWyreBoltonBuryManchesterOldhamRochdaleSalfordStockportTamesideTraffordWiganKnowsleyLiverpoolSt. HelensSeftonWirralDoncasterRotherhamNewcastle upon TyneNorth TynesideSouth TynesideSunderlandBradfordCalderdaleKirkleesLeedsWakefieldGatesheadBarnsleySheffield

Open across United Kingdom, so every council area in the North of England is shaded.

Drawn from the areas the funder names. If a scheme is only for part of a council area, check its own page. Boundaries from the Office for National Statistics.

Things we could not confirm

  • Business size is not stated explicitly; the text lists established businesses, start-ups, SMEs and individuals, so the sizes are inferred from that wording.
  • Challenge launch date is 5 October 2026, before the listed opening date of 07/10/2026; the page lists both.
  • Pitch and selection stages are by invitation for successful applicants; the grant is available only to the selected applicant after pitching.
  • Submission goes through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) in December 2026.
  • Challenge is run by GeoAcoustics' challenge holder via Innovation Exchange; its own rules may apply.

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Related open schemes

Everything open across the North

Source and last checked

Local Landscape gathers this information automatically from the pages below, then checks the key details against the official page. Checked against the official page (ktninnovationexchange.co.uk) on 10 Oct 2026. Its details last changed on 21 Oct 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with Innovation Exchange programme before you apply.

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